Arcadis continuing to expand

Real estate consultant Arcadis is continuing to grow in Belgium, making it probably the largest such firm in the country. From its beginnings in Belgium in 1995 through the acquisition of Gedas, it has now grown from the initial 150 members of staff to more than 800. Very nearly 10% of these (75) were taken on last year alone. A further 60 posts are waiting to be filled this year.

The activities of Arcadis embrace the real estate sector in the widest sense of the term, and in recent times it has seen its expertise solicited in areas such as water, the environment, buildings and infrastructure. Some of the emblematic projects in which it has been involved include the Brussels Ring, the Brussels metro, covering the Antwerp Ring, Rive Gauche shopping centre…

It has not always been plain sailing over recent times, however, as Arcadis Belgium CEO Kristof Peperstraete (photo) admits: “Thanks to various acquisitions, Arcadis Belgium has seen constant growth, except in 2008 when the crisis put the brakes on growth. Major investments in our country were put on hold and our sector went through a difficult period. This has been changing over the past few years. Companies and authorities are investing again and more than ever working on new projects oriented towards a circular economy, where smart cities and smart buildings become the norm, and where mobility and sustainability occupy a central position”.